Scrubbing-machine



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

J. GOWGILL. SURU BBING MACHINE.

Patented Apr. 28

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(No Model.) I Shets-Sheet J. GOWGILL. SQRUBBING MACHINE. N0. 558,934. Patented Apr. 28, 1896. r

ANDREW EGRAMM:NOTO-UTHQWASNINGTON.D r:

UNITED STATES PATENT OFF CE.

JONETTE COlVGILL, OF OTTAWA, KANSAS.

SCRUBBING-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 558,934, dated April 28, 1896.

Application filed May 8,1895. Serial No. 548,567. (No model.)

and mop up the floor as the machine is being pushed or pulled across it.

A further object of the invention is to pro duce a machine of the character above speci fied which is simple, strong, durable, and comparatively mexpensive of construction.

lVith these objects in view the invention consists in certain novel and peculiar features of construction and combinations of parts, as

will be hereinafter described and claimed.

In order that the invention may be fully understood, I will proceed to describe it with reference to the accompanying drawings,

wherein- Figure 1 represents a side elevation of a scrubbing-machine constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 represents a top plan view of the same. Fig. 3 represents an inverted plan view of the same. Fig. i represents a vertical cross-section taken centrally of the machine. Fig. 5 represents a cast-metal frame employed as a part of the framework. Fig. 6 is a plan view of one of the detachable rotary brushes carrying toothed rings. Fig. 7 is a vertical section of one of said rotary brushes and the ring embracing the same. Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the mechanism for changing the relation or connection between two wheels of the machine. Fig. 9 is a perspective view of one of the clamping-brackets of the stationary brushes. Fig. 10 is an inverted plan view of a part of the framework of the machine. Fig. 11 is a view, partly in elevation and partly in section, to show clearly the connection between the shaft and its actuating-spring.

In said drawings, 1 designates a tank of rectangular configuration to'contain the wafer-supply. 2 designates a rectangular skeletonframe, preferably of cast metal, which is arranged externally against one side of said tank, and 3' designates a rectangular plate, preferably of steel, which is arranged externally against the opposite side of said tank, and said cast-metal frame and steel plate are secured rigidly in position by means of metallic straps 2, which engage externally the ends of the tank and are provided with anglearms 3, which embrace and are riveted to the outer sides of the cast-metal frame and steel plate at their corners.

Projecting about centrally from the plate 3 is the shaft 4, which is journaled one end in said plate and near its opposite end in the bearin g-bracket 6, riveted at its opposite ends to said plate. The outer end of the shaft is preferably squared, as shown at 5, to receive a crank-handle or equivalent device for turning said shaft when necessary. Mounted rigidly upon the shaft, contiguous to said plate, is a wheel 7, which is annularly grooved in its periphery, and in one flange is provided with a notch 7. A cog-wheel 8, of diameter preferably exceeding the height of the tank, is journaled loosely in said annular groove of the wheel 7. Projecting from the outer face of said cog-wheel is a hook 8, and slidingly carried by an ear projecting from said cogwheel is a spring-actuated dog 9, which is adapted to engage the notch 7 of the'wheel 7 and which is provided at its opposite end with a crank-arm 9 for engagement with the hook 8 to prevent the dog from entering said notch except at the proper time.

The coil-spring 10 of the proper strength surrounds the shaft 4 and is secured to the same at its inner end by applying it between the two halves of the shaft, and projecting through an aperture in said end is a pin which projects from one of said halves. Said halves are held together by the bearings. At its opposite end said spring is secured, as at 11, to a staple or projection of the bracket 6. Mounted also upon the shaft 4 and interposed between said spring and said bracket is a ratchetwheel 12, and engaging the same is a springactuated pawl 13, pivotally mounted upon the arm 6, projecting inwardly from the bracket 6. Said bracket carries an adjustable pin 6 which may be employed to hold the pawl out of engagement with the ratchet-wheel when necessary.

ICO

Riveted to the bottom of the tank, or secured in any other suitable manner, is a cast-metal frame 14, and depending vertically from said frame are the cylindrical studs 15, 16, 17, and 1.8, reduced and threaded at their lower ends, as shown at 19, and mounted upon said cylindrical studs, respectively, are the rotary brushes 20, 21, 22, and 23. The upper portion of each of said brushes, which is of wood, is bushed or lined with a metallic wear-sleeve 24, and in its periphery is grooved to receive a toothed ring. This ring forms, substantially, a cog-wheel composed of two sections 25, pivoted permanently together, as shown at 26, and detachably connected together at their opposite ends, as shown at 27, preferably by a wing or thumb nut. These rings or cogwheels are adapted to be clamped around said rotary brushes with sufficient force to cause the rotary brushes to rotate when opposed by considerable friction. If necessary, however, said rings may be provided with inwardlyprojeeting lugs (shown in dotted lines, Fig. 6) to engage cavities in the body portion of said brushes,to prevent any possible chance of the ring or cog-wheels turning without a correspon ding movement of the brushes. The said cog-wheels are of such diameter and the cylindrical studs hereinbefore described are so arranged that the cog-wheel upon the stud 15 engages or meshes with the vertical cogwheel 8' and also with the cog-wheel or ring of the brush 21, which in turn meshes with the cog-wheel on the stud 17, and said cogwheel in turn meshes with the cog-wheel on the stud 18. The said cog-wheels are retained in position upon said studs by means of nuts 28.

Secured rigidly to and projecting vertically above the cast frame 2 and the plate 3 arethe bearing-plates 29, and journaled in thesame are the superimposed shafts and 31, eX- tending transversely of the machine and parallel with the shaft 4. Said shafts carry, respectively, the wringer-rollers 32 and 33 and upon one end; of'the shaft 30a cog-pinion 34,

which meshes with the cog-wheel 8, and also with a similar cog-pinion 35 upon the shaft 31. At each end of the roller 32 the shaft 30 carries a small sprocket-wheel 34, which arein the same vertical plane as the guide-rollers 35, mounted rotatably upon stub-shafts projecting inwardly from the portions 36 of the 37 are preferably connected by rods 39, and mounted upon said rods in the same vertical planes as the sprocket-wheels 34 are the guide-rollers 40, 41, and 42, the guide-rollers 40 being vertically above the guide-rollers 42, which are just above the top of the tank, and

and said sprocket-chains are connected at in- 1 tervals, preferably, by wire rods 44, upon which are strung in any suitable manner sponges or mop-rags 45. To distribute water upon the floor in advance of the rotating scrubbing-brushes, I provide an outlet-pipe 46 near the lower front end of the tank, which outlet-pipe is controlled by a valve 47 and communicates with the transversely-extending tube 48, provided, preferably, with a number of discharge-spouts49, and in order to concentrate the water after being subjected to the action of the rotary brushes, that the sponges or mops may properly perform their function, which is to mop up the floor and absorbthe Water from the'same, I provide a pair of rearWardly-con verging'stationary brushes 50. These brushes are embraced near their opposite ends by brackets 51, riveted or secured in any other suitable manner to the casing 14 at the bottom of the tank, and are secured by means of set-screws 52, impinging upon the sides of said brushes.

53 designates a bracket, which bridges the tank and is rigidly secured to the cast frame 2 and the plate 3, and pivotally engaging the same at its front end is the handle 54, of the construction shown or of any other suitable or preferred construction.

Supposing now that it is desired to scrub the floor, it is first necessary to wind the spring 10 tightly upon the shaft or arbor 4by means of a crank-handle or equivalent device. As it is undesirable, however, and unnecessary that the rotating brushes and the endless mops should be operated at this time, the spring-actuated dog 9 is withdrawn from engagement with the noteh7 and held in such disengaged position by engaging its crank- :arm 9 with the hook 8, as shown clearly in Fig. 8.

It will now be seen that when said shaft is turned the wheel 7 turns in but does not operate the cog-wheel 8, and it will also v be understood that the pawl 13, engaging each successively-presented. tooth of the ratchetwheel 12, prevents the back rotation of the shaft accidentally. The water,suitably prepared, is now poured into the tank and the dog 9 released from engagement with the hook 8 to permit it to bear with frictional engagement against the periphery of the wheel- 7.

The valve 4 is now opened to permit the required quantity of water to escape through the spouts 49, and at the same time the pawl 13 is raised from engagement with the ratchetwheel 12 and is held insuch position by projecting the pin 6 beneath it. Immediately the pawl is thus disconnected the spring begins to unwind, and consequently, as the handle is grasped and the machine pushed across the floor, causes the rotatable operation of the scrubbing-brushes 20, 21, 22, and 23. It will now be noticed that as the machine is forced across the floor the rearwardly-converging brushes 50 concentrate the waste wafer toward the center of the machine, where it may be more easily absorbed by the sponges as they successively come into frictional contact with the floor and travel in the direction indicated by the arrows, Fig. 1. It will also be seen by reference to Fig. 1 that the sponges saturated with the dirty water will in passing through the tank be submerged to remove a greater portion of the dirt, and as they pass outwardly and through said wringers practically all of the moisture will be removed from them and passes back into the tank, leaving the sponges to pass rearwardly and in condition to again absorb water from the floor as they come in contact with the same.

As the redischarge in advance of the machine of the water in the tank, which becomes soiled by the cleansing of the sponges or mops, might be considered objectionable, I

may divide or partition the tank into two chambers, the front one containing unused water and the rear one containing water in which to rinse the sponges or mops. Such partition is shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2.

From the above description it will be apparent that I have produced a scrubbing-machine which is positive and reliable in operation and will be found of great convenience practically in scrubbing floors of large'area.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- 1. In a scrubbing-machine, the combination of a tank, and means to discharge water upon the floor therefrom, with a shaft, a wheel fixed thereon, a cog-wheel loose upon the fixed wheel, rotatable scrubbing-brushes,which are operatively geared to the cog-wheel, a spring to operate the shaft, and a device to change the relation between the grooved wheel and the cog-wheel, substantially as set forth.

'2. In a scrubbing-machine, the combination of a tank to supply water to the fioor, a bracket thereon, a shaft journaled in the side of the tank and the bracket, a notched wheel fixed upon the shaft, a cog-wheel loose upon said wheel, a hook-lug upon said cog-wheel, a series of rotatable scrubbing-brushes below the tank and geared to the cog-wheel, a cranked spring-actuated pin carried by the cog-wheel to engage alternately the hook-lug and the notch of the fixed wheel, and a spring to turn the shaft when the pin engages the latter.

In a scrubbing-machine, the combination of a tank to supply water to the floor, a shaft suitably j ournaled and supported, a wheel fixed upon the shaft, a ratchet-wheel also rigidly mounted upon the shaft, a pawl pivoted to a suitable support and engaging said ratchet-wheeha cog-wheel loosely mounted upon the fixed wheel, a series of rotatable brushes below the tank and geared to the cogwheel, a spring to rotate said shaft, and a device to throw said fixed wheel and said cogwheel in or out of gear, accordingly as the spring unwinds or isbeing rewound.

4:. The combination of a tank to supply water to the floor, a shaft, awheel fixed thereon; a cog-wheel loose upon said fixed wheel, an endless mop geared to the cog-wheel and having one end submerged in the water of the tank and the other in contact with the floor, a spring to operate the shaft, and a device to fix the relation between the fixed wheel and the cog-wheel, substantially as described.

5. The combination of a tank to supply water to the floor, a bracket thereon, a shaft journaled upon the side of said tank and in the bracket, a notched grooved wheel fixed on said shaft, a cog-wheel loosely mounted thereon, an endless mop geared to said cog- Wheel, a pin carried by said cog-wheel, means to hold the pin in engagement with the notch of the grooved wheel, and means to rotate the latter.

6. The combination of a tank to supply water to the floor, a bracket thereon, a shaft j ournaled in the side of the tank and the bracket, a notched wheel fixed upon the shaft, a cog-wheel loose upon said wheel, a hook-lug upon said cog-wheel, an endless mop geared to the cog wheel, a cranked spring-actuated pin carried by the cog-wheel to engage alternately the hook-lug and the notch of the fixed wheel, and a spring to turn the shaft when the pin engages the latter.

7. The combination of a tank to supply water to the floor, a shaft suitably journaled and supported, a wheel fixed upon the shaft, a ratchet-wheel also rigidly mounted upon the shaft, a pawl pivoted to a suitable support and engaging said ratchet-wheel, a cogwheel loosely mounted upon the fixed wheel, an endless mop geared to the cog-wheel, a spring to rotate said shaft, and a device to throw said fixed wheel and said cog-wheel in or out of gear accordingly as the spring unwinds or is being rewound.

8. The combination of a water-supply tank for the floor, a shaft suitably journaled and having a fixed relation to the tank, a wheel fixed thereon, a cog-wheel loose upon said wheel, a pair of shafts geared to the cogwheel, wringer-rollers thereon, an endless mop geared to one of said shafts, means to operate the fixed wheel, and a device to fix the relation between the same and the cogwheel, substantially as shown and described.

9. In a scrubbingunachine, the combination with a suitable frame, of a series of rotatable brushes geared together, and consisting each of a peripherally-grooved body portion provided with depending brushes, and a toothed ring or annulus secured rigidly in said groove, and composed of sections pivoted together, substantially as shown and described.

10. In a scrubbing-machine, the combination of a tank, a plate, a bracket carried thereby, a shaft having a squared end journaled in said bracket and in the plate, which is se- IIO cured to the tank, and composed of two sections, one of them provided with a pin, a coil-spring upon said shaft having one end between the said sections, and provided with a hole through which said pin projects, and the other end attached to a fixed point of said bracket, so that when the spring turns in one direction the spring is unwinding, and when turning in the opposite direction the spring; is being wound substantially as described. 10

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JONETTE GOWGILL. Vitnesses:

II. P. WELsH, HARRIET MUZZY. 

